Automotive System Safety

4Safety Audits and Assessments

Background

Chapter 2 discussed the pillars of a safety organization. The first pillar is the enterprise system safety policy, the second pillar is independent audit and assessment, and the third pillar is execution of the enterprise system safety policy using the process it supports. These thee pillars are independent of one another, although they do interact. The independent audit and assessment activities consist of audits of the system safety process and assessment of the system safety work products. These work products are executed independently of the audit and assessment activities, within the enterprise product lines as part of the specific programs to launch automotive products for series production and public sale.

Chapter 2 discussed several approaches to accomplish this within an enterprise that produces automotive products, either as the supplier or the vehicle manufacturer (VM). Different organizational approaches can be used to execute the work products and also maintain the independence of auditing and assessment as well as the enterprise system safety process. We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. In every case, audits and assessments produce value by ensuring that the safety risk of releasing the product is not unreasonable, and that evidence supports an argument of diligence. The independence of the auditing and assessment activity is critical to providing an unbiased, credible argument of safety. ...